Connecticut western news., 1887-10-19

Fourth pass by without assisting Tn its celebration. Any day was worthy of celebrating to him in which his com rades would turn out and carousc in company. And this time they had made a glorious night of it. He and the rest of them were very drunk and conse- quently very happy. From store to store, from house to house, up and down all tho streets they went, rapping up the inmates, compelling the master of the house to treat and join them. It was rare fun, Passing the premises of Mexican monte dealer, Joe Cannon kicked at the door. As he was not in Q condition to stand steadily on one foot, he gave it little harder blow than. was necessary; for the door was secured only by leather hinges and it fell in. At least the boys told him so next morning that he had kicked in the Mexican door, That was all right, said Joe. He knew the monte dealer we'll, and had often bet an ounce or two in passing his table; the damage could not be great; he would go round after breakfast, pay for it, and apologize. True, there was the wife; she perhaps might not appreciate the foreign patriotism which disturbed her rest but she was bashful, retiring little thing and no one thought of her. Alp, preaching the house, Joe found the door still down. The Mexican was within !; placing hand on either door-post to steady himself, for his head seemed as big as barrel and his legs were little shaky, he began to talk to the man in broken Spanish, as best he could. Sud- denly from a corner where she had lain concealed the little woman sprang up and quick as flash threw herself upon the strong mans breast and buried her knife in his bosom. It was all done in an instant and he who had come to make reparation for a trivial jury con- mitted in a moment of music, he, the image of physical perfection and the pride of the camp, lay as dead. Why did she do it2 Did this man visit her house to insult her? Had they met at any time, and was there ill-will existing on either side2 No one knew. All those miners knew or cared to know was that it was monstrous punishment for so slight thing.
 And now, when the enragcd miners, with blow of the fist, burst i'll her door and stood before her, Juanita mani fested not the slightest fear; and yet she knew she must die. It was not def ance nor brazen impudence; she assumed no character; she acted only on the primary impulse of her nrttare, And that was stoical submission to memorable fate. She knew that she must die, and that was the end of it. Within range of a pistol shot were 2,Ooo men, every one of whom harbored at that moment a deter mined purpose sufficient to insure her
 death, and she knew it; the very cer- tainty of the result seemed to destroy the sting of death. Hastily putting in place some scattered articles and glanc-
 ing carefully at her dress-she was al. ready attired in her bcst-she signiied her readiness to go. The blaze of angry eyes and the frown1ng faces were all lost
 on her; she was thinking of her own af. fairs, thinking how she should send
 something to her friends; thinking abou1
 her household, and how her husband
 would do in her absence.
 A large pavilion that had been erected
 for the celebration ceremonies of tht
 day before still stood near the centre O.
 the town; there was a raised platform
 with chairs and table, making it jus
 the place for the occasion, and there th'
 dark eyed, bashful little murderess wa
 conducted by her guard of 20O0
 Twelve men eagerly responded to tn
 call for jury; happy he who coule
 have part in this gentle strangulation
 Glancing at each other and at the min CTS around them, they seemed to say
 "All is safe and settled; woman or n :, woman, she hangs" Lawyers for tn , defense were backward in presentin,
 themselves, but there were twenty fo
 the prosecution. Probably in the his tory of mobs there was never form o trial more farcical than this. Had the ] hanged the woman immediately, our re spect would be greater than when w see criminal so absolutely and univc1 . sally prejudiced and sentenced be , fore trial. It was wholly unlike tn procedure of the customary popula , tribunal It seemed that on tn s instant the miners had not only throw aside their usual chivalrous adoratio of sex, but that now they woul wreak their relentless wrath upon tn object of their abhorrence with all th force they possessed. That there was S little of this woman to pulvcrizc an = scatter seemed to exasperatc them.
 r humane physician mounted the stan D and testified that she was not in a f h condition to be hanged. What sue e testimony had to do with tho case n' body knew or cared. A howl of disa1 o proval followed; the good doctor Wi ? driven from the stand, driven from tl n town, and dared not return or sho y himself for several days. AS there Vi l.. not lawyer who had the courage to d t fcnd her, gentleman attempted g speech in behalf of the prisoner, but Y, was hcaten off the nlatform kicke